Asia Today: India's cases surge again, China opens Congress
BANGKOK (AP) — India reported its biggest single-day spike in virus cases Friday ahead of a resumption of domestic flights after a two-month halt.
The 6,088 new cases reported in the last 24 hours took its total to 118,447. Deaths rose to 3,583 while more than 48,000 people have recovered, according to the health ministry.
Maharashtra continues to be the worst-affected state in India with more than 41,000 cases. The number of fatalities in the state rose to 1,454, the highest in the country.
India has the 11th most confirmed cases in the world. It has eased its nationwide lockdown to restart economic activities and gave states more power to set the next phase of reopenings. Some domestic flights will resume on Monday.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
— NEW SOUTH KOREA CASES: South Korea reported 20 new cases as authorities scrambled to stem transmissions as schools gradually reopen. The figures announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday brought the national totals to 11,142 cases and 264 deaths. South Korea has managed to stabilize infections with aggressive tracing and testing. Its schools began reopening Wednesday, though dozens in Incheon, near Seoul, sent students back home after some tested positive. More students are to return to schools next week. Meanwhile, health authorities are reviewing the possible use of Apple and Google’s new smartphone technology that automatically notifies users when they have come close to infected people. But officials say it isn’t clear whether the Bluetooth-based apps would meaningfully boost the country’s technology-driven fight against COVID-19, in which health workers have aggressively used cellphone data, credit-card records and surveillance videos to trace and isolate potential virus carriers.
— CHINA CONGRESS...